Louver actuating and fan motor control mechanism



March 24, 1953 E. A. MADER 2,632,377A

' LOUVER ACTUATING AND FAN MoToR CONTROL MECHANIsn/xv A I Filed Jann.17)-1949 2 SI'lEETS--Sl-XEET l i l @wav f foy@ f c, fg@ l l L\ `\{Sr' v`A k3. f E nventol: Emil A Nadi?? 2 BB 7 l' y. (Ittoneg E A MADER2,632,377 LOUVER AOTUATING AND FAN MOTOR 'CONTROL MEOHANISM hwentor EmllA. Nadu' d4 (IttomegEI 4 2 SHEETS-#SHEET 2 March 24, 1953 Filed Jan. 17,1949 Patented Mar. 24, '1953 l LOUVER ACTUATING AND FAN MOTOR CONTROLMEcHANisM Emil A. Mader, Detroit, Mich.,wassignor of onehalf to JohnSpargo, Detroit, Mich.

' Application January 17, 1949, Serial No. 71,310

This invention relates to louver actuating and fan motor controlmechanism, an object of the invention being to associate with a set oflouvers and a motor-driven fan inducing air flow through an openingcontrolled by the louvers, a normally open control switch for the motor,and means for automatically closing such switch upon opening-thelouvers.

Another object is to adapt a set of normally closed louvers to be openedby a mechanism suited to remote control, and to automatically set up aforced ilow of air past the louvers, upon establishing their openposition.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism for establishing theopen position of a set of normally closed louvers, such mechanismincluding a latch for holding the louvers in open position, and suchlatch being readily releasable by said mechanism.

Another object is to provide a quite simple and inexpensive mechanismfor closing and opening a switch responsive to shifting of a set oflouvers to their open and closed positions, such switch controlling thedrive motor of a fan for inducing air flow past the louvers. v Anotherobject is to provide an improved spring means for biasing a set oilouvers toward l their closed position.

These and various other objects are attained by the constructionhereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein: Y

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a set of louvers, with their frame andcontrol mechanism, showing a .closed position of the louvers.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational View thereof taken on the line 2--2 ofFig. l, but showing an open position of the louvers.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. l, showing a tubular arm and control parts associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line ri-Ll of Fig. 1,showing a mercury switch employed in the disclosed construction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on the line -5-5 of Fig. 2, showing aspring connection between one of the louvers and a link bar.

Fig. 6 is an end View of a switch housing, showing the mounting of sameon a post.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of said post.

In these views, the reference character l designates a oor, such as thatof an attic, formed with a rectangular air flow Opening 2 dened by walls3. For normally closing said opening there is installed in the opening aset 1 claim. (oies- 116) of ksheet metal louvers 4 similarly pivoted atcorresponding edges on rods 5 journaled ina frame E formed of angleiron. The louvers, when closed, lap each other in the usual manner, andare upwardly swung, when open. Midway of their length, they arepivotally interconnected by a link bar l, engaging brackets 8 fixed onthe louvers. From one of said brackets a pair of coiled springs 9,straddling the link bar, are extended to a bracket l0 upstanding on suchbar, biasing the louvers AtowardY their closed position.

The opening 2 is covered by an air flow housing i i having an outlet I2wherein is fitted a fan i3 for drawing air upwardly through the opening`and expelling it through the outlet. The fan is driven through a beltHl from a motor i E whereof the circuit I6 is controlled preferably by amercury switch (Fig. 4). The illustrated switch comprises the usualcontact-receiving mercurybulb Il, occupying a housing i8, wherein saidbulb is iixed on the upper end of a lever i9 pivoted between its ends at26 and carrying a roller 2l below said housing. A coiled spring 22`acting on the upper end of said lever, tends to establish an opencircuit position of the bulb il, vand the louvers 4, in their openingtravel, serve to shift the bulb to its closed circuit position. Thus theroller 2l is engaged by an underlying louver 4 as the several louverscomplete their opening travel, rocking the lever and mercury bulb toclose the circuit.

It is preferred to rigidly sui-mount the housing I8 on a tubular arm orpost 23 clamped by a U-bracket 24 to an end of the frame E5, suchhousing projecting above said underlying louver at a suicient height toclear the latter in its opening travel. The arm 23 is further vitallyuseful in mounting mechanism for manually controlling the louvers. Thusthe arm houses and guides a tubular slide piece 25, diametricallycarrying a pin 26 to which is anchored a pull cord 2l, upwardly extendedbeyond the post and over a pulley 28, and connected to the link bar 1through a fusibler link 29 and a coiled spring 3G, disposed in end toend relation. Said pulley is journaled in a bracket 28a xed on the upperportion of said arm. Also anchored to the pin 26 is the upper end of alatch bar 3| which slidably extends through a slot 32 centrally formedin a head 33 permanently closing the lower end of the post or arm 23. Apull chain or the like 34, of any convenient length, depends from thelatch bar. The upper end portion of said bar is cut away along onelateral tion 37 to receive and retain the shoulder. The tendency of thelouvers to close,.due.to.. the.

springs 9, serves to urge the shoulder 36 "into said indentation, whendownward pull'on the chain 34 is relieved. It is: to Ice un'derstood'.that the latch bar undergoes a slight #lateral swinging on the pin 26 assoon as -downtravel of said bar exposes the shoulder 36 below the arm23, such swinging disposing the shoulder i in vertical registration withsaid indentation.

Such lateral swinging results from` fact `that the,l pull `chainattaches to the bar at .its vlongitudinal axis, whereas engagement ofthe bar with the Ypin 261s at the longitudinal axis of thetongue 35. Itis obvious that arelease of the latch bar `may beeffected by a slightswingingv actuation of the pull chain.

Thedescribed mechanism assuresV that the fan will operate whenever thelouvers are open and :willbe yidle when the louversare closed. Also itprovides in a very simple manner for a common control of the louvers andfan motor. The-disclosed provision for latching the louvers in openposition or releasing same is extremely simple, inexpensive, andreliable in action. The spring V30 is of value in assuring a suiiicientupward actuation of the latch bar, following a release vof tension onthe pull chain 391:0 assure aiirm latching engagement of the shoulder 36with the margin of the slot 32.

While the mechanism has Vbeen described in its application to afloor-installed yset of louvers, it isapparent that vit is readilyTadaptable alsoto wall-installed louvers;

In mounting the switch housingA |8` onfthe post 23, there is rigidlysecured to the latter a laterally projecting arm 38 to which saidhousingis attached bybolts 39. It is preferred toforrn said armwithvertical slots 11i] for said bolts whereby the switch housingmay beraised orlowered 15o-assure .proper engagement of the Aroller 2| byvarious sizes of louvers.

What I claim is:

In a closure operating mechanism, a pivotal closure. a frame in whichsuch closure is -pivoted, such frame having an airflow. opening, an.elongated tubular arm, means rigidly securing said arm on said frame, aslide-piece slidable in said arm, an elongated flexible actuatingelement for the closure connected to the slide-piece, means operativelyconnecting said element to the closure, a pulley mounted on the tubulararm and guiding the actuating element, means for; latchingf'ther-slideepieceto the 'tubular arm inan open position of the closure,fal`fan mounted to deliver air through the opening of said frame, anelectric motor driving the fan, a switch controlling such motor, meansmounting the switch on said tubular arm, and a spring tending to openthe switch, said switch having I closure and'actuable by the closure inits open- I ing Vtravelto .close Athe switch.

EMIL A. MADER.

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